Ontario Wedding from Illusions Media Photo + Cinema
If it wasn't enough that this couple planned their stunning wedding themselves, the sweet bride was also behind those beautiful blooms. Yep, you heard me. The week leading up to the big day, this lovely lady was putting together centerpieces and bouquets. I think I might have gone crazy, but she got through it with apparent ease - and a floral design that is just beyond. Illusions Media Photo + Cinema has filled our gallery with beauty... click here to see it!
From the lovely couple... Steve had ordered a custom made ring for Jessica through a jeweler referred by a friend. Once the jeweler had a provided firm date the ring was to be ready Steve booked a trip for the two to Aruba for the proposal. Unfortunately, the ring didn't arrive in time for the (non-refundable!) trip. So, during the stay at the Riu Palace in Aruba, after dinner one evening, Steve took Jessica down to the beach and proposed with an engagement themed charm for her Pandora charm bracelet. Each charm that fills the bracelet is a gift from Steve with a unique memory associated with it so this engagement charm was quite a fitting substitute. One month later, the original ring was still not ready so a new ring was purchased from the same jeweler that made Jessica's parents rings for their wedding 27 years ago; the jeweler also created a one of a kind wedding band for Steve.
The best moment for us (aside from our vows!) was arriving at the reception. Not only being surrounded by excited, loving, and supportive friends and family but the reveal of the reception space. We had carefully selected all the details hoping it would all work, but seeing it all come together so beautifully was even more than we had hoped for or could've dreamed of.
Having worked as a florist in Toronto for a couple years, Jessica had definitely seen her fair share of Wedding decor- and this made planning her own wedding even more of a challenge. She knew that she had to do it herself in order to have it just the way she had envisioned for so many years. It was quite nerve-wracking- most brides are trying to relax on 'wedding week'- meanwhile- we were just getting started on what seemed like the most important and thought out part of this wedding- the flowers.
We picked up all the flowers and had them cleaned and stored on Tuesday & Wednesday so that they were in prime condition for Saturday. The Royalton (our reception venue) was kind enough to let me work on site on Friday to prepare the centerpieces for all the tables. Each of the 20+ tables was to receive four flower arrangements and 1 large arrangement with an imported Manzanita tree, that was decorated with preserved dendrobium orchids and had hanging crystal strands. These were complimented behind the head table by a back-drop of gold valances accompanied by sheer and crystal curtains.
Jessica prepared six bouquets including her own, as well as all the corsages and boutonnieres. For herself - a bouquet of creams and blush pinks- incorporating lots of seasonal selections- rice flower, dahlias, and astilbe, along with some personal favorites, calla lilies, cymbidium orchids, and ranunculus. For the bridesmaids she really wanted a punch of bold fall colours against the chocolate dresses- again some seasonal selections of hypericum berry, astilbe and celosia along with roses in orange peach and fuchsia.
The only floral detail Jessica couldn't complete herself were the four head table floral arrangements, as they had to be placed while the room was being assembled during the ceremony itself. For this, Jessica turned to good friend Leonard Teengs of Leonard's Design Systems, he designed four lovely arrangements that complemented the centerpieces and the bouquets as well as the overall rich fall theme.
Photographer: Illusions Media Photo + Cinema, Vas & Marina | Ceremony location: St. Gertrude's Roman Catholic Church | Reception location: The Royalton | Bridal gown: Mori Lee, Bliss Bridal Boutique | Bridal party attire: Mori Lee, Bliss Bridal Boutique | Groom’s tuxedo: Freeman Formal | Cake: Ericakes, Erica Cowie | Caterer: The Royalton, Mario DeCicco or Peter Natalizio | Music: DJ Emporium | Hair: Valentino's Grande Salon | Make-Up: Blush Pretty, Stephanie Daga | Centerpieces & Bouquets: Pluck This! | Head table arrangements: Leonard's Design Systems | Bride's Headpiece: Made by "Bling!" supplied by Bliss Bridal Boutique | Jeweler: Victoria Fine Jewellery
The best moment for us (aside from our vows!) was arriving at the reception. Not only being surrounded by excited, loving, and supportive friends and family but the reveal of the reception space. We had carefully selected all the details hoping it would all work, but seeing it all come together so beautifully was even more than we had hoped for or could've dreamed of.
Having worked as a florist in Toronto for a couple years, Jessica had definitely seen her fair share of Wedding decor- and this made planning her own wedding even more of a challenge. She knew that she had to do it herself in order to have it just the way she had envisioned for so many years. It was quite nerve-wracking- most brides are trying to relax on 'wedding week'- meanwhile- we were just getting started on what seemed like the most important and thought out part of this wedding- the flowers.
We picked up all the flowers and had them cleaned and stored on Tuesday & Wednesday so that they were in prime condition for Saturday. The Royalton (our reception venue) was kind enough to let me work on site on Friday to prepare the centerpieces for all the tables. Each of the 20+ tables was to receive four flower arrangements and 1 large arrangement with an imported Manzanita tree, that was decorated with preserved dendrobium orchids and had hanging crystal strands. These were complimented behind the head table by a back-drop of gold valances accompanied by sheer and crystal curtains.
Jessica prepared six bouquets including her own, as well as all the corsages and boutonnieres. For herself - a bouquet of creams and blush pinks- incorporating lots of seasonal selections- rice flower, dahlias, and astilbe, along with some personal favorites, calla lilies, cymbidium orchids, and ranunculus. For the bridesmaids she really wanted a punch of bold fall colours against the chocolate dresses- again some seasonal selections of hypericum berry, astilbe and celosia along with roses in orange peach and fuchsia.
The only floral detail Jessica couldn't complete herself were the four head table floral arrangements, as they had to be placed while the room was being assembled during the ceremony itself. For this, Jessica turned to good friend Leonard Teengs of Leonard's Design Systems, he designed four lovely arrangements that complemented the centerpieces and the bouquets as well as the overall rich fall theme.
Photographer: Illusions Media Photo + Cinema, Vas & Marina | Ceremony location: St. Gertrude's Roman Catholic Church | Reception location: The Royalton | Bridal gown: Mori Lee, Bliss Bridal Boutique | Bridal party attire: Mori Lee, Bliss Bridal Boutique | Groom’s tuxedo: Freeman Formal | Cake: Ericakes, Erica Cowie | Caterer: The Royalton, Mario DeCicco or Peter Natalizio | Music: DJ Emporium | Hair: Valentino's Grande Salon | Make-Up: Blush Pretty, Stephanie Daga | Centerpieces & Bouquets: Pluck This! | Head table arrangements: Leonard's Design Systems | Bride's Headpiece: Made by "Bling!" supplied by Bliss Bridal Boutique | Jeweler: Victoria Fine Jewellery